New Reviews @ Absolute Zero Media
Bahimiron/Unchrist "Last of the Confederates"-Split MCD (Graveless Slumber)
Bahimiron in an even more raw pissed off format then the Moribund release. This is extreme Black metal the kind that 90's demos came from my friends. The low fi element on the drums and over all noisy backdrop works so well with the guttural / screeching vocal assault going on with these 4 short gems of hate and bleak hope from Bahimiron. If Eyehategod and Venom had a love child I really think it would be Bahimiron. Now we dig into the sounds and nightmares of Unchrist. Within the 1st 3o secs I going to say that Unchrist is a fan of Crust and Punk and mixes with there ultra rough black metal rituals. I want to calll Unchrist war metal but its even to extreme for that title at times. There is an odd melody to all of this at times but it all just comes back to clusterfuck of sound and torment. This is one amazing split CD of 2 extreme bands that deserve more exposure to very unforgiving world of music....
http://gsr666.com/
This is by no means a simple release to listen to or review in any manner. Wodensthrone is a craft a skill a modern masterpiece of extreme blackened metal. Wodensthrone is three very distinct parts of the whole . As the root of it all this is a Black metal band but you must include the elements of viking metal that are very much in the Falkenbach and Vintersorg manner to this reviewer. The icing on the cake so to speak is the Folk or Traditional music mixed in were it reminds me of bands like Agalloch, A Forest of Stars or Wolves in the throne room. That should give you a real picture of what Wodenthrone are all about.. The more I listen to the release there is a kindred spirit to bands like Borknagar and Burzum too. Wodensthrone has so many level and layers going on with a very strong melodic overtone. The Blackened battle cries work well with the synth backdrops too. If your all remember a band called Somnus these gentlemen remind me a lot of that project. There is a strong pagan tie to this band and the thoughts they are creation. The blistering drums and rumbling bass with the delicate acoustic's of the guitar make the whole journey all the more special for the listener. Bindrune has a very important release here and will break them to a new level of exposure and I can not wait for Wodensthrone next release even if its 3-4 yrs from now.
http://bindrunerecordings.com/
Skyfire- Esoteric-CD (Pivotal Rekordings)
This is the type of band extreme metal fans love or hate do to the heavy Prog and Symphonic elements. Skyfire are again another one of the bands that are parts of a whole. Mix Dimmu Borgir , Amorphis and Dark Tranquility and you will get the classical strings and pianos, driving folk and Death/Black metal to complete the picture. Skyfire are not a ground breaking band but are very very good at the tracks they are giving to the world. Yes its all be heard before with there is a different approach to the structure and that is more then most Melodic Black/Death bands even try to do these days . So I respect that greatly. I like the throaty death vocal style more then going for the black melodic singing that would fit as well. Skyfire is going for the more old school gothenburg vocals here and I've missed them to the more hardcore feel that bands like Soilwork and Inflames have been going for now. The guitar and synths are just beauty in motion here as well with the very complex rhythm section working overtime on " Esoteric". Skyfire is a band with class and talent well worth the listen several times over....
http://pivotalalliance.com/
The Accüsed-"The Curse of Martha Splatterhead" CD (SOUTHERN LORD)
Welcome back to the world of Grind, Punk, Metal and just great fun . Most of all welcome back Martha!!!!! MMMMMMMMMM..... LOL. I grew up in 80/90's with bands like this and DRI just doing there own DIY Punk, Crust Metal movements. The Accused has spawned more then more band or label because of there amazingly diverse style. Even Sir Mix Alot and his Nastymix label released an label for these madmen. Tommy,Blaine and Company have now found a real home with Southern Lord were they can express there chaos to the world without having to look at another 5-10 yrs of silence.... You have to love the raw punk/crust vocals with the almost hardcore/punk guitars , bass and drumming. THe Accused I always thought were just one step shy of Grindcore. They were always in the same light to me as S.O.D and BuzzOven. You got you love the samples and intros and outs on some of the tracks too. Well what else can be said that hasn't about them. Don't be stupid and get this release so Southern Lord gives us years of The Accused!!!!.
http://southernlord.com/
Canis Dirus- A Somber Wind From a Distant Shore-CD (Moribund Cult)
The Pagan Fathers of the old lands seems to be deeply rooted in this project. The vocals sound so tormented there almost unsettling to the seasoned Black metal listener. They remind me very much of what old Bethlehem and Shinning vocals were like... The music on the other hand clearly call out a few very classic Black metal bands two right now off hand are Burzum and Negura Bunget... With the slow mid tempo droning almost folkish black metal. Canus Dirus are not a happy duo at all you can feel the sickness and hatred to all that is around them , forget about mankind being the man target... The disharmonic tones and the very high end distortion on the guitars well at the same time underlying tracks have very crisp and clean guitar lines. I like the bass is very clear and can be strongly heard and used as a melodic element and not just bottom rumble. For a brief moment Canis Dirus remind me of Opeth with the epic and soft acoustic moments but just in spots and for mere moments. Another jem in the metallic crown of Moribund Cult...
http://moribundcult.com/
Nazxul - Iconoclast -CD (Moribund Cult)
Nazxul just screams out to the listener if you like Darkthrone, Immortal and Satyricon them come to our temple of darkness and deprived thoughts because you are very much welcome. There is a hopelessness that comes from Nazxul you don't hear much mix with a raw symphonic element I've only really heard in older Satyricon releases before. There is a punk element were bands like Khold and Darkthrone shine here as well. In the vocals they are classic norge Black metal cries , screams and grunts mixed with the deep spoken passages were they are almost chanting deeply. Nazxul is just fucking brilliant. This is perfect Black metal to my ears . Just get the release or be stupid....
http://moribundcult.com/
Hiems- Worship or Die-CD (Moribund Cult)
This is WAR METAL!!!!!!!!! MARDUK, PANZERCHRIST, IMPALED NAZARENE all these band beware a new Blackened force is coming to take the throne with a battle cry that may even be louder and more pissed off then your. There is very much a Bolt Thrower vibe going on here too and I love that more then words can say. You will also be very aware of a melodic heavy prog feeling going on that I would almost say is a mix of Katatonia and Bal Sagoth very much present. If Hiems could have the tanks roll across the landscape and ravage the land then this would have already happened some time ago. The driving sound of this band is just so damn powerful. Hiems came out of left field on this with me but I should never doubt Moribund and there signings as there have only been a few that didn't win me over verses 50 to 100 that have. Worship or Die is classic War Metal in the making...
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